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A review by tylertylertyler
Once We Were Brothers by Ronald H. Balson
4.0
I received a copy of this book for review through Goodreads' First Reads program.
This was a stunning book. It was gripping and emotional and all of the characters were wonderful. (In the sense of well-written and not in the sense of 'good people.') I really wish that I had more to say, but the main thing I can say is: read it.
While I can often become emotionally invested in a good book, this one did something that not many others have manages: it moved me to tears. It was extremely powerful and moving, a tragedy split across a century. The action, taking place in the present (well, 2004-2005), is tied very neatly back to the heart of the story and the heartbreak, which took place in in the 1930's and 1940's. The book's narration is in third-person but because the past is narrated by Ben Solomon, his story is brought to the reader in a more personal, first-person point of view; bringing us close to the action and, of course, the pain. The difference between past and present narration was handled in a similar manner, and was consistent and clever. I thought this an excellent way to frame the story, surrounding Ben's story with the case at hand. It gives the reader the opportunity to step back for a time, to see the evidence start to build, and how the characters are handling this high stress situation. We are brought along with Catherine, from doubt in Ben and herself, to a slow building change. I felt particularly close to her, as she not only embodied my positions and reactions, but even my personal standards and career path.
There were some aspects of the story that were truly unexpected, surprises both unpleasant and exciting. While of course we already know much of how the story must turn out, based on the present, Ben never fails to reveal something new, another little piece. And while sometimes his details seem pointless-- like Catherine, you have to trust him that it will all count, in the end.
The weakest part of this novel is the information it occasionally dumps out. Usually the numbers and the dates serve their purpose to really put everything into perspective, while Ben gives us the up-close-and-personal look at what those numbers mean, but sometimes it was a little much. Once or twice, it seemed almost unbelievable that Ben had all of these numbers so readily at hand in his mind. But then, the fact is that this is the culmination of his life, perhaps the most important thing he will do. He came prepared-- and so did the author. Balson's research and detail are admirable and he portrayed both the legal system and the war with honesty and accuracy. While it is fiction, meaning some liberties can be taken on specifics, I think that the fact that Balson kept as much of the real history involved as he did loaned some credence to the story. This is the story of the Solomons, but it is also the story of the pain of an unfathomable number of people.
The only thing I really want to fault it with is that there was less court room drama/intrigue than I was hoping for, but that's a personal preference that was no fault of the book's. I will say honestly that while the novel is far from perfect, it did a damn good job of being an excellent book all the same.
This was a stunning book. It was gripping and emotional and all of the characters were wonderful. (In the sense of well-written and not in the sense of 'good people.') I really wish that I had more to say, but the main thing I can say is: read it.
While I can often become emotionally invested in a good book, this one did something that not many others have manages: it moved me to tears. It was extremely powerful and moving, a tragedy split across a century. The action, taking place in the present (well, 2004-2005), is tied very neatly back to the heart of the story and the heartbreak, which took place in in the 1930's and 1940's. The book's narration is in third-person but because the past is narrated by Ben Solomon, his story is brought to the reader in a more personal, first-person point of view; bringing us close to the action and, of course, the pain. The difference between past and present narration was handled in a similar manner, and was consistent and clever. I thought this an excellent way to frame the story, surrounding Ben's story with the case at hand. It gives the reader the opportunity to step back for a time, to see the evidence start to build, and how the characters are handling this high stress situation. We are brought along with Catherine, from doubt in Ben and herself, to a slow building change. I felt particularly close to her, as she not only embodied my positions and reactions, but even my personal standards and career path.
There were some aspects of the story that were truly unexpected, surprises both unpleasant and exciting. While of course we already know much of how the story must turn out, based on the present, Ben never fails to reveal something new, another little piece. And while sometimes his details seem pointless-- like Catherine, you have to trust him that it will all count, in the end.
The weakest part of this novel is the information it occasionally dumps out. Usually the numbers and the dates serve their purpose to really put everything into perspective, while Ben gives us the up-close-and-personal look at what those numbers mean, but sometimes it was a little much. Once or twice, it seemed almost unbelievable that Ben had all of these numbers so readily at hand in his mind. But then, the fact is that this is the culmination of his life, perhaps the most important thing he will do. He came prepared-- and so did the author. Balson's research and detail are admirable and he portrayed both the legal system and the war with honesty and accuracy. While it is fiction, meaning some liberties can be taken on specifics, I think that the fact that Balson kept as much of the real history involved as he did loaned some credence to the story. This is the story of the Solomons, but it is also the story of the pain of an unfathomable number of people.
The only thing I really want to fault it with is that there was less court room drama/intrigue than I was hoping for, but that's a personal preference that was no fault of the book's. I will say honestly that while the novel is far from perfect, it did a damn good job of being an excellent book all the same.